Jeff Elder, director of the student council, said, "Senior Steve Ebberts came up with the idea to donate the money to the CRP. He pointed out that Ebberts was touched by a poster in school with pictures of missing children.

"This is the largest amount of money we every donated to an organization. The past four years the most we ever donated was $500. The students did one heck of job in raising this money."

Watts, of Allentown, is the father of two missing children - Jessica, 9, and James, 7.

Accepting the check, he broke the news to the council that he was a father of missing children.

He said, "I cannot believe the amount of this check from the students of Lehighton Area High School. This money will be put to good use. We will use this money toprint more posters of missing children. The money will also be used for long-distance phone calls and many other materials we need."

Watts told the students that over 100,000 children are missing in the United States and the number continues to rise.

In closing, Watts thanked the students and said this is the first high school in the area to raise money for CRP.

Elder said that of the $2,800 raised, $400 was contributed by Lehighton area businesses and $2,400 from students participating in a 12-hour dance marathon.

The balance of the marathon money will go into the Student Council Memorial Scholarship fund.

The student council also donated $50 to the Palmerton High School marathon dance to be used for the Judy Parsons Memorial Scholarship fund.